Kathmandu-valley shuts down in protest of youths' killing

Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Nov 20 (PTI) An Indian diplomat escaped unhurt
when a mob pelted stones on his car as anti-Maoist protests
paralysed life in Nepal's capital Thursday, pushing vehicles
off roads and forcing schools and major markets to remain
closed.

Agitators attacked the car of First Secretary S K Joshi
near the Indian embassy here this morning.

Joshi, who was inside the vehicle was unhurt, but his car
was badly damaged in the incident, Indian Embassy sources
said.

Protests against the killing of two youths allegedly by
the Maoists' youth wing cadres intensified across the capital
Thursday.

All private and public vehicles remained off roads,
schools and colleges were closed and major markets were shut
down as the youth wings of main opposition Nepali Congress and
coalition partner CPN-UML called a valley-wide strike.

At least two motorcycles, a passenger bus and an army
jeep were vandalised in different parts of the capital this
morning for defying the shut down, police said.

A group of students also attacked the National Institute
of Science and Technology, which was holding classes during
the strike.

Demonstrators had vandalised vehicles and blocked roads
yesterday, following the recovery of bodies of two youths who
were allegedly abducted by the Young Communist League cadres
last month.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa and CPN-UML's Pradip
Gyawali, who addressed a gathering here, held Prime Minister
Prachanda morally responsible for the killing and condemned
the Maoists' "anarchist activities".

Meanwhile, eleven student activists belonging to Nepal
Students Union (NSU) affiliated to Nepali Congress were
injured when the YCL activists attacked them, according to NSU
President Pradip Paudyal.

Agitators shouted anti-Maoist slogans and demonstrated at
different places demanding stern action against the culprits,
banning the YCL and compensation for the victims' families.

Maoists put off their National Workers' Conference that
was scheduled to kick off today to discuss their ideological
document and future strategy.

Meanwhile, 22 Constituent Assembly members of Nepali
Congress have issued a joint statement holding YCL responsible
for the killings of the youths.

They condemned the death of the two and demanded strong
action against the culprits. PTI SBP
SAK
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